Air removal for radiators.



J. A. DONNELLY. AIR REMOVAL FOR RADIATORS. APPLICATION FILED MAY 12. 1 06.

- Patented Hwy 2,191 6 LlSlASQQ merges.

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JAMES A. DONNELLY, OF BROOIKLYN, NEW YORK.

AmnEMovAL FOR RADIATORS."

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES A. DONNELLY, a'citizen of the United States, and a resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented cer-' tain new and useful Improvements in Air Removal for Radiators, of which the following is. a specification.

This invention appertains to certain novel and useful improvements in circulating systems and has particular'application to improved means and methods of removing air from heating systems.

I It consists in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts setforth in andfalling within scope of the appended claims.

In the'accompanying drawings like char acters of-reference indicate like parts in all the views and, Figure 1, shows my improvements applied and employed in connection with aradiator heating system. Fig. 2, is a detail sectional view of the restriction valve employed at the ,outlet of eachradiator. Fig. 3, is a detail view of the controlling diaphragm valve employed in my system.

Heretofore, in automatically removing air from radiators, especially those installed in residences and small dwellings, it has beencustomary to place an air valve on the radiator, which is controlled by the difference in a known type, while B B designate radiators.

At 5 is a steam supply main leading from the boiler and communicating with each of the radiatorsby branches 6 each branch'having a valve 7 to control the admission of steam to'the radiator. A continuation 5 of the steam main has leading from it. a branch pipe 8, which connects with the underside of the diaphragm or controlling valve indicated as a whole by C. Leading from the radiators are branch returns 9, communicating with the main return 10, leading back toward the boiler. Each of the branch returns is provided with a restricting valve D, shown'in detail in Fig. 2. The main return at a point near the Specification of Letters Patent.

- Application filed May 12, 1906. Serial No. 316,426.

Patented May 2, 1916.

valve C, is divided' into two branches, one shown at'll, leading to the boiler to convey the water of condensation, the other branch 12, leading from the main to the upper portion 'of the diaphragm valve C, and is designed to convey air to said valve. The pipe 12 is shown as including a vertical portion arranged above the return pipe 10, whereby the water in the return is prevented from passing to the valve C. By this means the air and water in the return are separated.

13 is a pipe for discharging air from the diaphragm valve to any suitable point of discharge, in the present instance the ash pit of the furnace. A check valve 14, is

with the inlet from the- -return 12, and the .return discharge 13.

7 These chambers are separated by the diaphragm 17, connected with the verticalvalve stem 18, carrying a valve 19, controllingthe return passage through the valve. This stem 18, projects through the high pressure chamber and through stufiing box" 20,- outside thereof and is connected with the lever 21, carrying the adjustable weight 22.

23 is a link connecting'the lever-the casing-of the diaphragm. I I will now proceed to describe the mechanical constructions of;,,;the restriction valve D at the outlet of the radiator present instance.

The valve comprises an outer casing 24:, an inner casing 25,'within which is the rein the striction valve member 26, hinged or other wise suspended at 27 to the top wall of .the casing. The. orifice 28 in the casing 25,

'- forms a valve opening or seat controlled by the cone like portion 29, of the valve piece 26. .At the relatively widened base portion of the cone, I form a grooved impact surface 30. Each of the valve pieces 26, may be weighted as at 31, and it is to be understood that each valve piece is weighted to suit the particular needs of its particular outlet.

'The abovebriefly describes the mechanisms and elements I employ. a

The operation of the system is briefly as follows :-Steam being up in the boiler, the valves 7 of the radiators are opened and the steam passes through the mains v5 and sure upon the diaphragm, and as such pressure plus the weight exceeds the steam pressure upon the underside of the diaphragm,

the valve ,19, is moved away from its seat and the air escapes through such valveito the airdischarge 13.- The water of condensation meanwhile flowing down the return pipe 11. As the air flows from the radiator through the returns just described, the steam following naturally flows into the returns between the'valves D and C and as such steam condenses in these returns the pressure therein naturally drops untilbty the time all the air has passed through the valve C the pressure in the returns between the re striction valve D and the diaphragm C is so low that it, plus the weight is not sufficient to hold the valve C open against the,action of steam on the underside of the diaphragm 'andthe' valve 19 closes, all the air having been driven out of the radiators andre-' A further advantageous feature incident to my construction is this :After the system has been heated up, if sections of the radiators are closed up and become cold and filled with air, .the opening of the inlet valve 7- of'one of these cold radiators compresses the air therein and forces it out through the restricting valve into the return space before occupied by. steam. This raises the pressure in the-returns and serves to open the control valve C and maintain it in a more or less open position until the air in. the return passes through the valve C and is discharged.

The valve piece 26 of the restriction valve D is weighted'sufiiciently to maintain the.

pressure in the return at a point below that in the supply. For instance, if the pressure in the supply is two pounds, the valve piece 26 would be weighted in such proportion to the area of the valve seat as to maintain the pressure in the return at one and three-quarter pounds. It is of course, desirable that the area of the restricted opening 28 be less than the area of the pipes so that the flow in the return pipes will not be affected sufficiently to materially change the pressure in the returns.

In order that the pressure in the return main may be properly maintained relative to the supply the usual drips from the steam to the return main are provided with aloop derstood that various modifications .and.

changes may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention and Without exceeding the scope of the claims.

\Vhat -I claim is 1 1. In a steam circulating'system, the combination of a steam generator, a radiator, a supply pipe and a return pipe connecting the radiator with the generator, a pressure-operated restriction valve in the return pipe to maintain the pressure in the return pipe a predetermined amount below that of the supply, said return pipe having an air outlet to the atmosphere-between the radiator and the generator, and a pressure-operated valve for controlling said air outlet in the return pipe and arranged to open said outlet when the pressure in the return pipe reaches a predetermined amount.

2. In a steam circulating system, the combination of a steam generator, a radiator, a supply pipe and a return pipe connecting the radiator with the generator, said return pipe having an air outlet to the atmosphere from the return-pipe, a pressure operated restriction valve in the return to maintain the pressure in the return pipe a predetermined amount below that of the supply, and a pressure operated valve for controlling said air outlet and arranged to be operated when the pressure in the return pipe reaches'a predetermined amount.

3. In a steam circulating system, the combination of a source of steam supply, a radiator, a 'supply'pipe and a return pipe connecting the radiator with the source of steam supply, said return pipe having an air outlet. to the atmosphere, a pressure operated valve in the return pipe acting to automatically maintain the pressure in the return pipe be low that in the supply pipe, and a pressure operated valve controlling said, air outlet and arranged to open said outlet when the pressure'in the returnpip'e reaches a predetermined amount.

4. In a steam circulating system, the combination of a source of steam supply, a radiator, a supply pipe and a return pipe connecting the radiator with the source of steam supply, said return pipe having an air outlet to the atmosphere, a pressure operated valve in the return pipe acting to automaticallymaintaiii the pressure in the return pipe below that in'the supply pipe, and means for controlling said air outlet controlled by the pressure in the return pipe between said valve and the air outlet and arranged to open said outlet when the pressure in the return pipe reaches a predetermined amount.

5. In a steam circulating system, the combination of a source of steam supply, a ra-- diator, a supply pipe and'a'retur-n pipe con necting'the radiator with the source of steam I supply, said return pipe having an outlet to the atmosphere, a pressure operated valve in the return pipe acting to automatically maintain a predetermined differentialof pressure between the said supply and return pipes, and means controlling said outlet and operated by the difierential of pressure in the supply and return pipes.

6. In a steam circulating -system, the combination of a steam generator, a radiator, a

' supply pine-and a return pipe connecting the radiator with the generator, an automatic pressure operated valve 1n the return pipe for causing a predetermined diiferentialof pressures in the return pipe and the supply pipe, said-return pipehaving an-air outlet to the atmosphere in the return pipe between said valve and-the generator, a valve controlling said outlet, a diaphragm operatively connected. with said valve, means forming with said diaphragm a pressure against-supply pressure to permit escape of chamber on each side thereof, means for;

withdrawing the valve from its seat,one of said chambers communicating Wltll tlle supply pipe to overcome said means and seat the valve, and the other chamber communicating with the return pipe, the arrangement being such that the combined pressure of steam and air in the return pipe'together with-said means operates to open the valve air from the return pipe through said outlet to the atmosphere.

7.-;In a steam circulating system,'the combination of a steam generator, aradiator, a. supply pipe and a return pipe connecting the radiator/with the generator, an autoother chamber communicating with thereturn ipipe,.said last ,named communicat on. beingprovided'with means'for preventing,

" ie wiate of condensation entering said, other.

matic pressure operated valve in theiret urn pipe for causing a predetermined difi'erem' tia'lof pressures in the return pipe and the supply pipe, said return pipe having an air j'outlet in the return pipe between said valve and the generator, a valvecontrolling the outlet, a diaphragm operatively connected with said valve, means forming with said diaphragm a pressure chamber on each side of the diaphragm, means for withdrawing the valve fromi-ts seat, one-of said chambers communicating With thesupply pipe to overcome said means and seat the valve, the

chamber fromthe return pipe, the arrangement being such that'the combined pressure of steam and air in the return pipe together i with said means operates to open the valve against supply pressure to permit escape of air through said outlet.

8. In a steam "circulating system, the combination of a steam generator, a radiator, a supply pipe and areturn p'ipe connecting the radiator with the generator, an autoinatic pressure operated'valve in the return 'pipe'forcausing-a predetermined differential of pressures in the return pipe and the supply pipe, said return pipe having an air outletin the return pipe between said valve and the generator, a valve "controlling the the air and'water of condensation in the return pipe, the arrangementbeing such that the combined pressure of steam and air in the return pipe together with said means operates to open the valve igainst supply pressure to permit escape of air' through said outlet.

9. In a steam circulating system, the combination of a steam generator, a radiator, a supply pipe and a return pipe connecting the radiator with" the generator, an automatic pressure operated valve in the return pipe for causing a predetermined diiierential of pressures in the return pipe and the supply pipe, the return pipe having an air outlet to the-atmosphere between said valve and the generator, a valve controlling'said outlet, a diaphragm operatively connected with said valve, means forming with said diaphragm a pressure chamber on each side of the diaphragm, means for withdrawing the valve from its seat, one of said chambers v communicating with thesupply pipe to over come said means and seat the valve, a pipe connecting theother chamber communicating with the return pipe, said pipe connecting,said other'chamber and the return pipe .having a part extending vertically above the .return pipe, the arrangement being such that the combined pressure of steam and air in the return p'ipe, together with said means,

operates to open the valve "against supply pressure to permit escape of air through said outlet, and the water of condensation passes to the generator independently of said valve.

10. Ina steam heating apparatus, the

combination of a steam-boiler, a radiator, a supply pipe. and a return pipe connecting said boiler and radiator and forming the 'ewith a circulating system, the return portion of said system having an outlet above the normal Water level therein, and a pressure actuated valve device for controlling said outlet, said pressure actuated valve device being in commun1cat1on with the system' above the normal Water level therein, arranged to be acted upon difierentially by the pressures in the supply and returnportions of the system, and adapted to close,

boiler and radiator an forming therewith a circulating system, the return portion of said system having an outlet above the normal water level therein, means for restricting the flow of fluid from the radiator to the return, pipe whereby a given differential of pressure may be maintained between'the" radiator andthe return pipe, and means for malntainmg sa1d differential of pressure, sald means comprising a pressure actuated valve device for controlling said outlet ar-' ranged to be operatedv byv the variation of pressures in the supply andreturn portions of the system.

- JAMES A. DONNELLY. Witnesses:

R. B. CAVANAGH, W. A. PAULING. 

